By Raqib Hameed Naik, TwoCircles.net
Srinagar: Learning no lessons from 2014 floods in the valley, the successive PDP-BJP government has chosen not to take any immediate measures to stop repeated inundation of Srinagar and other towns due to frequent rainfalls.
As the Valley continues to witness rains and snow since last two days, leading to sharp increase in water levels, with the Jhelum above the danger mark at some places. the Irrigation & Flood Control Department has sounded flood alert at various places.
The water level is above the danger mark in Jhelum and Ram Munshibagh river as it has touched 19.70 ft and 17.7o ft at 5 pm on Thursday.
Major parts and roads of the Srinagar city are covered in rain waters after the faulty drainage system failed to drain water into the rivers leading to restricting the movement of the people. The rainwater has even entered into the houses in some localities.
The colleges and schools have also been closed for three days following the flood alert.
In 2016, the government had contracted out dredging of river Jhelum to Kolkata-based dredging firm for Rs 46 crore which was supposed to complete the work in February 2017 but as of now, it has only completed 33% of the target.
The J&K High Court on Thursday, March 31 had warned the state government on delay in the dredging of river Jhelum and had warned that it could lead to another devastating flood similar to 2014 floods.
“The concern shown by the Chief Engineer can be appreciated only when it is translated into action. River Jhelum right from the place of its origin to its end point runs through the middle of the Valley. Any lapse in ensuring complete dredging and removal of encroachments may definitely give rise, at any time, to a catastrophe. God forbid, same may not happen as it happened in the year 2014,” division bench of Justices Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and BS Walia were quoted as saying in Kashmir Reader’s report.
Besides, the drainage channel in the city has always remained a major problem for residents as even little reain leads to waterlogging.
Idrees-Ul-Haq, a resident of Lalbazar in Srinagar city told TCN,“ we are facing serious problems due to the recent rains. The concerned departments responsible have shown their inability and callousness till date. Neither they have dredged the Nigeen lake basin nor its outlets like Amda Kadal, Bota kadal, Pokhribal etc. which results in the inundation of low line areas even the drainage network laid down in entire area punctures itself in the Low line areas of Zadibal constituency,” he said.
“Government should come out of election campaigning mode. Their inability to act will amount to corruption of highest order. It doesn’t require any rocket science to deal with these simple technical issues,” he added.
Waseem Zargar from Barmaulla said that the major areas of town are water logged. The same was reported to TCN by Ghulam Mohammad Pandith from Pulwama.
“The dredging of river Jehlum is very important. It took us two years to recover from 2014 floods. If such situation comes up again, then this time we won’t be able to cope up with it.The government only wakes up when water flows in rivers above the danger mark,” said Pandith.
The Kashmir valley had witnessed devastating floods in September 2014 when valley remained crippled for months. Fearing that the river might swell again as it did during devastating floods in September last year, the residents are panicking and are intending to relocate.